Automatic water-regulator



(No Model.)

B. W. LONG. AUTOMATIC WATER REGULATOR.

No. 543,034. Patented July 23, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT O F CE.

EBEN W. LONG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC WATER-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,034, dated uly 23,1895.

Application filed April 8, 1895. Serial No. 544,946- (Nomodelh To Mlwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBEN W. LONG, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticVVater-Regutanks, feed-water heaters, and wherever wator-regulation isrequired.

My invention consists of a suitable tank, a springcontrolled supplyvalvecapable of adjustment to suit different pressures and conditions, asafety-valve to guard against flooding the system or boiler or tank, asthe case may be, with which said regulator is used, and the usual floatand lover so connected as to operate both the supply and safety valves,substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as illustrated in thedrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig.2 is a vertical central section through the tank and regulator. Fig. 3is a vertical section taken on a plane at a right angle to that shown inFig. 2 on dotted lines 3 3, Fig. 2;. and Fig. 4'is'a horizontaltransverse section taken on dotted'lin'e 4 4, Fig.2, show-. ing thefulcrum-pin of the float-lever.

In the drawings, A. represents a suitable tank, which is sort ofpear-shaped, the small.

end being rectangular. in cross-section and having its under side on thesame horizontal plane as the under side of the tank, and having its sidewalls, as distinguished from its end wall, formed by a continuation ofthe side walls of the body of the tank. The body of the tank ispreferably somewhat elliptical in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3, andits end is cast open and is normally closed by a cover I), which can beremoved when access is desired. In the uppermost portion or top of thetank is an equalizing-pipe 0, leading from the pressure-chamber of thesystem, to which the regulator is applied, whether air or steam, and inthe bottom of the tank a pipe 13, leading to the water-reservoir orsource from which the water is distributed for use. On

one side of this tank, preferably on a vertical plane intersecting itsgreatest axis, are two stubs 00 w, located one above the other, for theconnections of a suitable water-gage X, which may be located on eitherside of the tank, or if desired may be dispensed with altogether.

In the top and in the bottom of the small end of tank A, in verticalalignment to each other, are two screw threaded openings. Screwed intothe upper opening is a short cylinder O, in the lower end of which is acentral guide-boss r, supported by radiating arms, between which and thesides of said cylinder the water can freely pass, and in the upperfemalescrew-threaded portion of this cylinder is a head D, having acentral opening therethrough. The upper end of this head is connected tothe inlet-pipe of my improved regulator, and the marginal edges of thelower end of its central opening are preferably projecteddownward, so asto form a valve-seat for the valve E. This valve consistsof thecup-shaped upper end of a vertical spindle d, which extends down throughthe guideboss 0, as shown, and in the bowl of this cup shaped upper end'of the spindle I place a suitably-shaped block of vulcanized rubber d.or other suitable packing material, which normally presses up againstsaid valve-seat. This upward pressure of the valve E is created by thecoil-spring a, surrounding said spindle between the under shoulders ofthe cup-shaped valve E thereof and said boss r. If desired, the pressureof this spring may be regulated by putting a collar f on said spindleimmediately under said valve, up against which the upper end of saidspring presses, and then having aset-screw f screwed down through saidvalve, as shown, and bearing upon said collar in such manner as to tiepress the spring e to obtain the pressure thereof desired.

The lower end of spindle d is slotted or providedwith avertically-elongated opening 9 therein, through which thehorizontallydisposed adjacent portion of the float-lever G passes. Thisfloat-lever G is fulcrumed atits rear end, between suitable lugs h,projecting forward from the rear vertical wall of the small end of thetank, by the fulcrum-pin H, which is extended laterally to and throughthe side wall of the tank and has its head portion screw-threaded, so asto screw into the tapped opening in said tank. While this constructionof the fulcrum-pin H is not absolutely necessary, I prefer it because ofits ease of manufacture. The lever G extends horizontally forward fromits fulcrum through the elongated opening in spindle (Z and a shortdistance forward from the same is bent obliquely upward and has thespherical float I on its end.

Screwed up through the lower end of the spindle d is a gage'screw, whichis of'sufficient length to enter the opening 9 and bears against theunder side of the floatlever G. Now when the water in the tank fallsbelow a given level the lever moves downward and depresses spindle d andopens the valve E and permits the water to flow from the inletpipe intothe tank. Should the water in the tank accidentally rise above thesafety-level, by reason of the water in the system being under onabnormal pressure, or otherwise, the tank is provided with means toautomatically permit the escape of water therefrom until the water inthe system equalizcs itself and returns to its normal condition.Itherefore screw into the opening in the floor or lower wall of thesmall end of tank A a pipe, or, preferably, a pipe-elb0w I, which drainsintothesewerorothersuitableout-take. The edges of the mouth of thiselbow I, entering the tank, are provided with an annular beveled flange,so as to provide a valve-seat 11, which is normally closed by the valveJ. Valve J consists of a suitable ring or washer of vulcanized rubber orother suitable insulated material, which surrounds the lower narrowerend of a sleeve K, said sleeve having a circumferential flange mimmediately above the valve J, whereby said valve J is rigidly held tosaid sleeve K by means of a suitable washer, and nut 70 screwed into thelower screw-threaded end of said sleeve, as shown. The upper portion ofsaid sleeve above the valve is greater in diameter than the lowerportion, as hereinbefore intimated, and the sleeve is provided with adiaphragm on the samehorizontal plane as the flange m, so as to preventleakage therethrough. In order to aid in guiding the reciprocal movementof valve J, I extend centrally up through the bend of said elbow a post01, the upper end of which enters the bore of the lower end of thesleeve, as shown. This post may be dispensed with, if desired, however,and other means employed for this purpose. The bore of the upper part ofsleeve K above the valve is of sufficient diameter for the lower end ofthe I-shaped or double T-shaped block N. The connecting web of thisblock passes through the slots 0 of the sleeve and the elongated openingin the spindle, and when the leverG moves upward above the normal itbears against this block and lifts the sleeve and valve J. Thewater-pressure within the tank is SUlllClGlll) to keep this valve J onits seat and close the drain, except when the float is above the safetywater-level, whereupon the valve is lifted and the water escapes fromthe tank until the normal condition of the water in the system isreestablished.

There are details of construction in connection with my invention whichI have not heretofore referred to, which can be changed. These I desireto be understood as comprehending as coming within the spirit and scopeof my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new is 1. The combination with a tank having an inlet,an outlet drain in the bottom of said tank opposite said inlet, and adistributing pipe, of a valve normally closing said inlet, having a,vertical spindle depending there from, and a valve closing said drainhaving, a sleeve projecting upward into the bore of which the lowerportion of said spindle extends, and a float. lever and float, saidfloatlever extending through elongated opening and slots in said valvespindle and sleeve and opening the drain valve when moving upward, andopening the inlet valve when moving downward.

2. The combination with a suitable tank having an inlet, an outlet drainin the bottom of the same opposite said inlet, and a distributingoutlet, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindledepending therefrom that has a longitudinally elongated opening, a valvefor closing said drain and a sleeve arising therefrom into which saidspindle extends and having longitudinal slots therein, an adjustableblock connected to said sleeve and extending through said slots andthrough the elongated opening in said spindle, a float, a float-leverpassing through said elongated opening in said spindle and the slots ofthe sleeve, as set forth.

3. The combination with a suitable tank having an inlet therein, anoutlet in the bot tom thereof opposite said inlet and a dis tributingoutlet, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindledepending therefrom which is provided with a longitudinally elongatedopening in the lower portion thereof, a valve for closing said drainwhich has a sleeve having longitudinal slots therein into the bore ofwhich said spindle extends and having a portion of said sleeve dependingbelow said valve, a post arranged below said valve and projecting intothe depending portion of said sleeve, a float and float-lever, saidfloat-lever extending through the slots and elongated opening of saidsleeve and spindle, as set forth.

4.. The combination with a tank having an inlet, an outlet drain in thebottom of the tank opposite said inlet, and a distributing pipe, of avalve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle dependingthere from, having an elongated opening in its lower portion, a springfor keeping said valve openings and slots in said valve spindle andsleeve and opening the drain valve when moving upward, and opening theinlet valve when moving downward.

5. The combination with a tank having an inlet, an outlet drain in thebottom of the tank opposite said inlet, and a distributing pipe, of avalve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle dependingtherefrom having an elongated opening in its lower portion, a spring forkeeping said valve normally closed, devices for regulating the pressureof said spring, and'a valve closing said drain having a sleeveprojecting upward into the bore of which the lower portion of saidspindle extends, and a float-lever and float, said float-lever extendingthrough elongated openings, and slots in said valve spindle and sleeveand opening the drain valve when moving upward, and opening the inletvalve when moving downward.

- 6. The combination with a tank having an, inlet, an outlet drain inthe bottom of the tank opposite said inlet, and a distributing pipe, ofa valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindle dependingthere from having an elongated opening in the lower portion, a springfor keeping said valve normally closed, devices for regulating thepressure of said spring, a valve for closing said drain and a sleevearising therefrom into which said spindle extends and havinglongitudinal slots therein, an adjustable block connected to saidsleeve. and extending through said slots and through the elongatedopening in said spindle, a float, a float-lever passing through saidelongated opening in said spindle and the slots of the sleeve, as setforth.

7. The combination with a suitable tank having an inlet, an outlet drainin the bottom of the same opposite said inlet, and a distributingoutlet, of a valve normally closing said inlet having a vertical spindledepending therefrom that has a longitudinally elongated opening, a valvefor closing said drain and a sleeve arising therefrom into which saidspindle extends and having longitudinal slots therein, an adjustableblock connected to said sleeve and extending through said slots andthrough the elongated openingin said spindle, a float, a float-leverpassing through said elongated opening in said spindle and the slots ofthe sleeve, and a fulcrumpin extending from the end of said tank and theend of the lever pivoted between said lugs, as set forth.

EBEN W. LONG. Witnesses:

THEO. B. HELLER, FRANK D. THOMASON.

